Smith & Wesson Model 649 range test

[David LaPell]

I took out my newest toy to the range the other day, and I was surprised at how accurate it is considering the barrel length. I tried out three different loads that I had, I fired five 170 grain #358429 SWC's with a moderate amount of Win. 231, five 158 grain SWC's with 3.8 grains of 231, and 130 grain or so lead RN's with a moderate charge of Unique. The 170 grainers proved to be the most accurate and this gun has a wonderful double action trigger, one of the smoothest I have ever shot. I am going to work up some better personal defense loads, either with some Hornady 125 grain XTP's or some 155 grain #358156 hollowpoints, but they should shoot just as well.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss57/Smith29-2/Smith649.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss57/Smith29-2/Smith649tgt.jpg

[dubber123]

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh83/dubber123/IMG_3149.jpg I would highly recommend the 358156 HP's cast from a 50/50 mix of WW's-Pb., air cooled. These were fired at 850 Fps. from a 1-7/8" S&W mod. 640. I have never gotten a jacketed Hp to expand reliably at this low speed, but the cast HP's do. With a good load, I think you'll find your snub will shoot in 2-3" @ 25 yds. pretty easily. Have fun with your new toy. :)

[square butte]

Dubber, The wife bought a 640 a couple of months ago. Don't have the 358156HP - but do have 3 others of similar class. Right now she has 130 gr hydra shocks in it - but I have wondered about expasion with them.

[2ndAmendmentNut]

I have the same gun, love that little thing. It is currently loaded with some 110gr SWC from a Lee mold, with 2400.

[dubber123]

Dubber, The wife bought a 640 a couple of months ago. Don't have the 358156HP - but do have 3 others of similar class. Right now she has 130 gr hydra shocks in it - but I have wondered about expasion with them.


One thing that will help all HP's is to "pre-plug" the cavity with Paraffin wax, boolit lube, etc., basically anything semi-soft. Hp's work off hydraulic pressure, and if they get plugged with wood, clothing, etc., (stuff that doesn't flow under pressure), they often don't work correctly. This was an old trick the FBI used. I pre-plug my cast Swc's with LBT Blue Soft lube. Fired into wood, water, through heavy Denim first, it doesn't matter, they always expand the same.

[MtGun44]

IME, the only loads that were accurate and too the sights were a HP version of 358429
over a fairly hot load of Unique. Sounds a bit like your result, although your gun is
a lot heavier (less recoil!) than my 342.

Going to try filling the HPs with RTV.

Bill

[dubber123]

IME, the only loads that were accurate and too the sights were a HP version of 358429
over a fairly hot load of Unique. Sounds a bit like your result, although your gun is
a lot heavier (less recoil!) than my 342.

Going to try filling the HPs with RTV.

Bill


Bill, the mold you mentioned is the one in my pic. I have never tried RTV, but I have heard it works. If it does, it would be more convenient than stuffing boolit lube into them.